Page 85 of Distance

“Send that over to Nico now. See what he can pull from that photo.”

I nod and quickly forward it over. Another notification pops up. I quickly open it.

UNKNOWN

I told you I’d take her. That’s what happens when you underestimate your opponent, Champ. I’m going to enjoy every second with her.

Jamie.

Fucking Jamie.

“It’s her ex. He has her.”

“FUCK!” I scream, smashing my fists into the headrest in front of me.

“Wewillget her back, Brother. If it’s the last thing we do, we will bring her back to you. You have my word. The Falcone’s are too uncoordinated compared to us. They’re using a crackhead to do their dirty work for fucks sake.”

I know we will because I won’t stop until she’s back with me. I will unleash hell on this city until she’s home.

No one on this planet could stop me.

Another text pulls me from my murderous thoughts.

NICO

She’s at Jamie’s apartment. I’ve blocked the security feed and alerted our men to get there. Clean-up crew on standby.

He immediately sends through an address on West Street and I bark out to the driver and he puts his foot to the floor.

“We armed?” I ask Luca.

“Of course, we are. A full selection in the trunk. I fucking told you they wouldn’t be able to pull this off properly.”

“She isn’t safe just yet, Luca.”

But she will be. If it’s the last thing I ever do, I will make sure she is safe.

* * *

A blood-curdling scream echoes down the hallway. It’s her I know, without a doubt. Without a second thought, I sprint towards the apartment door. I can just imagine Luca and Grayson wanting to shout at me to stop, but I don’t fucking care. Her screams are getting louder and louder. It’s all I can focus on. At least she is still alive, I tell myself.

“Keller, fucking stop!” Grayson hisses, grabbing my arm and trying to hold me back. “You don’t know what you're walking into, you're no use to her fucking dead!”

It’s no use. My strength is too much for him. Added to the pure rage burning inside me, they have zero chance of holding me back from her. Nothing in this world will stop me from getting her.

I don’t give a shit. I can’t take another second of the sound of her screams piercing my heart. Aiming my gun towards the door, I kick it open only to be met with silence. I immediately spot Sienna’s limp body curled up on the wooden floor, crimson pooling next to her. The guns pointing at my head don’t even register as I launch through the room to get to her.

“What the fuck have you done!” I roar.

Grayson and Luca scream at me to stop. Bullets fly past my head, and the gunfire blasts in my ears. My vision is blurry as I collapse onto my knees in front of her, pull the knife from my boot and cut her ties. Slow shallow breaths escape her lips. My shaking hands, now covered in blood, pull her body into mine. Her unconscious form is unmoving.

“Sienna Baby, can you hear me?” I’m failing to keep the rising panic out of my voice. My whole life feels like it’s slipping through my fingers and I can barely keep a grasp on it. This can’t be fucking happening. I can’t lose her.

“Baby, please. You promised you wouldn’t leave me. You promised Sienna.” A sob escapes as I stroke her sticky blood-soaked hair.

The world around me fades out for a minute. All I can focus on is my perfect firecracker, motionless, bloodied, and bruised beneath me. Bringing my head down to hers, I nuzzle into her hair, warm tears running down my face.

Gunshots ring through my ears again, followed by thudding. Using my body as a shield, I lay on top of her and squint my eyes. Anything. I would do anything to protect her. She can live without me, but I could never live without her.

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